Adapted Physical Education Concentration

Program description

This online program for the master’s degree or state approval in adapted physical education delivers all courses online. Tuition for non-resident and resident students is the same.

This program is designed to prepare physical education teachers in providing quality adapted physical education for school children with disabilities in the least restrictive, most appropriate, and most inclusive environments. Program graduates will gain knowledge, skills, and experience in teaching students with disabilities fundamental motor skills and patterns, physical and motor fitness, as well as skills in aquatic, dance, individual and group games and sports, and leisure and recreational skills.

Admission instructions

WMU has a new online graduate application system that allows all students (domestic and international) to submit required information into one system. General application information for the University, as well as specific requirements for individual programs, are captured into this system.

Careers

The shortage of professionals in Adapted Physical Education, including school teachers and college professors, has been chronic and significant for many years. This shortage has been documented not only based on the number of professional positions funded by schools and universities, but also based on the number of students with disabilities who need adapted physical education services. The further information concerning this shortage can be found in the following research articles completed by the Director and advisor of this federally funded online master’s degree program.

Zhang, J. (2011). "Quantitative Analyses about Market- and Prevalence-based Needs for Adapted Physical Education Teachers in the United States." The Physical Educator, 68(3) 140-149. Full article

Zhang, J. & Chen, S. (2004). "Marketable Features of Adapted Physical Education and Therapeutic Recreation Careers in the Public Schools." The Proceedings of 2004 International Conference for Physical Educators: Innovation and Application of Physical Education and Sport Science, 399-410. Full article

Capstone (four credit hours)

HPHE 7120 Field Experience (four credit hours) Or both

HPHE 7120 Field Experience (two credit hours)

HPHE 7100 Independent Research (two credit hours)

Degree approval

Students who complete 36 credit hours in the program of study will earn a Master’s Degree in adapted physical education. Teachers certified in physical education or special education in Michigan can also apply to add an endorsement in Physical Education for Students with Disabilities (SP).

This approval or endorsement is specifically designed for students in the state of Michigan. It is designed to qualify a person who will teach students with disabilities adapted physical education classes with a valid teaching certificate.

Students who are Michigan residents will usually have valid teaching certificates before getting into this master’s degree program. Their approvals may be added to their teaching certificates after graduating from this program.

For students who are non-Michigan residents, approvals for teaching adapted physical education classes may be accepted by their states. They should ask their state Department of Education or check these certification requirements for other states before applying for this program.

For students who earned approvals from this program, they may also be able to teach adapted physical education classes in other states. They should ask other states or check this interstate agreement before applying for a job position.

In Michigan, students earning approval to teach adapted physical education are required to complete 22 credit hours. Students are allowed to apply for this program for approval only if they do not need to earn a master’s degree.